PA-RISC information - since 1999

HP Visualize X-Class NT Workstations

Quick Facts
Introduced 1999
Period Intel
Series Visualize
CPU 1-2 Pentium III
Cache 512-1024 KB L2
RAM 2 GB
Design Intel GX
Drives 1 FD
4 IDE
Expansion 1 AGP
4 PCI
1 PCI/ISA
Bandwidth 800 MB/s
I/O 2 serial
parallel
2 USB
audio

HP Visualize X-Class were Intel-based personal workstations for Windows NT, released in 1999. With the X-Class, HP complemented its PA-RISC workstations. X-Class A5014A X500 to X550 were performance HP NT workstations, above the P-Class.

© Hewlett Packard 2000

Based on Intel Pentium III processors and up to two-way SMP capable with Intel 440GX chipset, X-Class used then-modern Xeon CPUs in contrast to Katmai/Coppermine and BX-based P-Class.

HP Visualize X-Class were dedicated professional graphics workstations for 3D design, CAD and CAM on Windows NT, used for professional digital content creation.

1999 ad by Hewlett Packard

Visualize X-Class shared almost nothing with the PA-RISC based Visualize brethren but the Visualize graphics adapters, which they use in modified + Versions on AGP. They also were shipped with 3rd-party graphics such as Elsa Gloria Synergy.

The dark-grey mini-tower HP X-Class used was similar to PA-RISC HP Visualize B1000, C3000, C3600, C3700 workstations and slightly different to P-Class.

Model Number Config Introduced Price
X500 A5014A entry 1999
dual, 512MB, fx6 1999 $12,326
X550 A5014A 1999

There was a technically different X-Class A1280 released soon after, based on Pentium III and RCC chipset (A1280A, A1280B).

System architecture

Processors

Model CPU Speed L1 Cache L2 Cache*
X500 1-2 Intel Pentium III 500 MHz 32 KB on-chip 0.5-1.0 MB on-package
X550 1-2 Intel Pentium III 550 MHz 32 KB on-chip 512 KB back-side on-package

X500 and X550 use Pentium III Xeon processors with 512 KB or 1 MB L2 cache on full-frequency. CPUs are installed in SEC cartridges in two Slot 2 slots.

Chipset

System buses

Memory

Expansion slots

Storage

External ports

Operating systems

Benchmarks

No official SPECint or fp results could be found for HP Visualize X-Class, so a similar Dell workstation 610 with GX chipset has been taken as reference.

* - assumed results based on reference data
Model Processor SPEC95 int SPEC95 fp SPEC2000 int SPEC2000 fp
P500* (BX) Intel Pentium III 500 MHz 20.7* 14.7* 231* 191*
Dell Precision 610 Pentium III 500MHz 21.6* 15.5*
Dell Precision 610 Pentium III 550MHz 24.2* 16.8*
B1000 PA-8500 300 MHz 23.9 39.3
C3000 PA-8500 400 MHz 31.8 52.4 313 321
C3750 PA-8700+ 875 MHz 678 674

Dimensions

Model Height Width Depth Weight
Desktop 510mm 270mm 416mm 22kg

There is an LCD panel on the front of the case which shows BIOS and configuration info and possible detected errors by the BIOS, enhanced by beeps. The LCD can also be used for diagnostics.

References

Manuals

Articles

Drivers and BIOS

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